If you have been following Astro news as of late, then you know Team ASOBI have been hard at work on a brand-new game coming out on Friday, 6 September. The game features over 50 planets, new powerups, lots of enemies, secrets and PlayStation-infused characters to collect. And it also features a DualSense wireless controller turned into a living character and helping Astro on his mission.

Today, PlayStation Australia and Team ASOBI are excited to announce that players will be able to charge into Astro’s new supersized adventure along with the cool new DualSense wireless controller – Astro Bot Limited Edition – check out the full reveal trailer below! 

The controller’s design features Astro’s signature blue accents on the handles and buttons, carved-in, sci-fi lines as well as the trademark playful pair of eyes on the touch pad. It is a true work of art, and all involved could not be happier with the end-result.

With this dynamic addition to your set-up, a supersized space adventure awaits…

The DualSense wireless controller – Astro Bot Limited Edition will be available in limited quantities for $124.95 and will launch on September 6, day-in-date with the launch of Astro Bot. Starting Friday, 9 August at 10am AEST players will be able to pre-order the DualSense wireless controller – Astro Bot Limited Edition from select retailers. 

See below for an overview of all the cool things this new Astro Bot game does with the DualSense wireless controller.

First, as many players would expect from an Astro game, you can feel the surfaces that Astro runs and slides on, from grass, sand, metal to more squishy textures or water. That was already the case with Astro’s Playroom, but the team have increased the number of textures players can feel through the controller.

Next, SIE doubled down on the adaptive triggers combined with haptic feedback, by tying them tightly to Astro’s new powers. For example, when using Barkster, the bulldog Jetpack, you can feel the thruster ratting against your finger in synch with the animation, giving a very dynamic and immersive feeling. Every new power up has been given that same special treatment so you will be able to experience various expressions through your fingers.

Finally, given the number of enemies and boss battles we added to this new adventure, it was important to work on battle and impacts by combining all of the above. Whether it’s stretching, pounding or pummeling hard surfaces, there are many new types of impacts that can be experienced in Astro Bot. 

And of course, the Dual Speeder, one of Astro’s most recurrent gadgets, allowing him to fly into various planets. The Dual Speeder makes full use of motion control, adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. 

The team will be back soon for more news around Astro Bot. For more information, head to the PlayStation Blog here. 

Keep up with the latest news from PlayStation Australia on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. 

Digital Pre-Orders Available Now

Warner Bros. Games have revealed the official “Welcome Students” pre-order trailer for Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions, giving fans a first look at theupcoming fast-paced gameplay experience based on the magical sport. Highlighted in the video are the game’s single player Career Mode and Online Competitive Mode as well as a sneak peek at the character creator and a few of the iconic playable characters, such as Ron Weasley and Draco Malfoy. The trailer also provides a glimpse of the Quidditch World Cup Stadium, as well as some of the epic magical arenas set in iconic wizarding world locations. 

View the Official Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions Pre-Order Trailer below

Fans can now pre-order Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC (Steam and Epic Games Store). The Digital Standard Edition is $49.95 (SRP) and the Digital and Physical Deluxe Editions are $59.95 (SRP) with no plans for microtransactions in the game at this time. Players who pre-order the game will receive the Firebolt Supreme Broom Skin.

The Deluxe Edition includes the base game as well as the Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Gryffindor House Packs and 2,000 gold to spend in-game (gold is only earned through gameplay progression). 

The Slytherin House Pack includes: 

• Slytherin Stormrider Hurricane Broom Skin 
• Slytherin Hogwarts Travel School Uniform 
• Slytherin House Crest Emblem 

The Hufflepuff House Pack includes: 

• Hufflepuff Stormrider Sandstorm Broom Skin 
• Hufflepuff Hogwarts Travel School Uniform 
• Hufflepuff House Crest Emblem 

The Ravenclaw House Pack includes: 

• Ravenclaw Stormrider Cyclone Broom Skin 
• Ravenclaw Hogwarts Travel School Uniform 
• Ravenclaw House Crest Emblem 

The Gryffindor House Pack includes: 

• Gryffindor Stormrider Firestorm Broom Skin 
• Gryffindor Hogwarts Travel School Uniform 
• Gryffindor House Crest Emblem 

Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions releases for PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC (Steam and Epic) on Sept. 3, 2024 for the Digital Standard and Deluxe Editions. The Physical Deluxe Edition will be available for PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One on Nov. 8, 2024. The Nintendo Switch™ system edition will be released this Holiday season. Players can check with their preferred retailers for pre-order availability for the Physical Deluxe Editions.  

Additionally, the Standard Edition of Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions* will be available at no extra charge to all PlayStation®Plus members from Sept. 3 to Sept. 30, 2024. The Firebolt Supreme Broom Skin will also be available as a redeemable pack, available during this time for PlayStation®Plus members. PlayStation®Plus members who download the game during this window will continue to have access to the game for as long as they remain a member. 

Fans can tune into the game’s official social channels in the coming days for a deep dive into game mechanics, roles, and more.

Featuring iconic wizarding world locations, characters, and references that fans will love, Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions highlights the rush of flying across legendary arenas as either a Beater, Chaser, Keeper or Seeker in a variety of modes. From backyard battles in the Weasley Burrow to high-stakes showdowns at the Quidditch World Cup, players will soar into legendary arenas playing as – or against – iconic characters such as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and many other quintessential characters.

To learn more about Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions, visit https://www.quidditchchampions.com/.

*Standard Edition available from 03/09/24 – 30/09/24. Monthly Games accessible for duration of PS Plus subscription only. PS Plus is an ongoing subscription with recurring fees until cancelled. Age restrictions apply. Full terms: play.st/psplus-usageterms.

HARRY POTTER: QUIDDITCH CHAMPIONS software © 2024 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Developed by Unbroken Studios. All characters and elements © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © J.K. Rowling.

WARNER BROS. GAMES LOGO, WB SHIELD: ™ & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s24)

All-New Story Expansion Continues the Mortal Kombat 1 Saga with the Return of Playable Characters – Noob Saibot, Cyrax, and Sektor Ghostface, T-1000 Terminator, and Conan the Barbarian Revealed as Upcoming Guest Fighters Fan-Favorite Animality Finishing Moves Return in Free Content Update for All Players

Sydney, Australia – July 30, 2024 – Warner Bros. Games have announced Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns, a new expansion for Mortal Kombat 1 featuring the next phase in the genre-defining Story mode centered around peace and anarchy, along with the addition of Kombat Pack 2 including six playable characters. Developed by award-winning NetherRealm Studios, Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns is set to release digitally on Sept. 25 at 1am AEST for PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch™, and PC (Steam and Epic Games Store).

After repelling the invaders who endangered Fire God Liu Kang’s New Era of peace, Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns expands the story campaign with an all-new cinematic narrative. When a perilous threat arrives from an alternate timeline, led by the ruthless Titan Havik whose sole mission is to throw the realms into khaos, Liu Kang must rally his champions and put faith in his enemies to defeat this grave danger. If they fail, the New Era will be reduced to anarchy.

Adding to the growing roster of playable fighters, Kombat Pack 2 features returning kombatants Noob Saibot, voiced by Kaiji Tang; Cyrax, voiced by Enuka Okuma; and Sektor, voiced by Erika Ishii, all with unique backstories as part of the reimagined Mortal Kombat 1 Universe. As Sub-Zero, Bi-Han was the Lin Kuei’s ruthless Grandmaster, but his soul was stolen by Titan Havik to create the perfect henchman, Noob Saibot, who is now dedicated to fomenting anarchy. Born into the Zaki, one of the Lin Kuei’s many sub-clans, Cyrax became a martial arts prodigy with an independent streak and untamed desire to serve the clan on her terms, or not at all. Growing up immersed in Lin Kuei culture under the tutelage of her parents, Sektor becomes a master armorer, skilled warrior, and Sub-Zero’s most trusted lieutenant, committed to advancing the clan’s future at all costs.

Kombat Pack 2 alsobrings a new batch of guest fighters into the mix with Ghostface, the recurring identity donned by antagonists from the Scream horror movie franchise, voiced by Roger L. Jackson; T-1000, the liquid metal-based Terminator and deadly cybernetic assassin from the Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) film featuring the voice and likeness of actor Robert Patrick; and Conan the Barbarian, the towering warrior from the Conan the Barbarian (1982) film featuring the likeness of actor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Additionally, Animalities, the fan-favourite finishing moves will be returning as a free content update for all Mortal Kombat 1 owners. Allowing characters to morph into their spirit animal to annihilate defeated opponents, Animalities can be performed by all playable fighters and will be available in conjunction with the Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns release. Furthermore, all owners of Mortal Kombat 1 will receive a free MK 95 Scorpion character skin, inspired by the original Mortal Kombat (1995) film, available today.

Watch the Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns Official Announcement Trailer

“With Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns, we’re looking forward to an exciting second year of content that will continue the cinematic story, add more fighters, and bring back popular game features,” said Ed Boon, Chief Creative Officer, NetherRealm Studios and Co-Creator of Mortal Kombat. “The expansion marks the long-awaited return of Animalities, which will be a free content update for all Mortal Kombat 1 players and a token of appreciation for our amazing community.”

Starting today, those who own Mortal Kombat 1 can pre-order Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns Expansion on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC for $75.95 and Nintendo Switch for $59.95, which includes the cinematic Story expansion and the six playable fighters within Kombat Pack 2. The Story expansion along with Noob Saibot, Cyrax, and Sektor will be available on Sept. 24. Ghostface, T-1000, and Conan the Barbarian will be released post-launch, with one-week early access provided to Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns owners. Please note, Kombat Pack 2 is not available as a standalone character bundle.

Mortal Kombat 1 owners can also pre-order the Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns Bundle on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC for $90.95 and Nintendo Switch for $75.95, granting immediate access to the previous Kombat Pack, which includes the Jean-Claude Van Damme character skin for Johnny Cage; six downloadable content (DLC) characters – Omni-Man, Quan Chi, Peacemaker, Ermac, Homelander, and Takeda Takahashi; and five DLC Kameo Fighters – Tremor, Khameleon, Janet Cage, Mavado, and Ferra. Additionally, for new players, the Kombat Pack is available now as part of the Mortal Kombat 1 Premium Edition or can be purchased separately.

All pre-orders will receive four new character skins at launch, including Wedding Scorpion, Empress Mileena, and klassic Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 versions of Sub-Zero and Noob Saibot.

Mortal Kombat 1 is the latest installment in the acclaimed Mortal Kombat videogame franchise developed by NetherRealm Studios. Introducing a reborn Mortal Kombat Universe with iconic heroes and villains reimagined as they’ve never been seen before, the game features a wide-ranging cast of legendary fighters with all-new backstories, including Liu Kang, Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Raiden, Kung Lao, Kitana, Mileena, Shang Tsung, Johnny Cage, Kenshi, Smoke, Rain, Li Mei, Tanya, Baraka, Geras, Reptile, Ashrah, Havik, General Shao, Sindel, Nitara, and Reiko, along with a separate roster of Kameo Fighters who can assist during matches.

To learn more about Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns, please visit MortalKombat.com or join the community conversation on Instagram (@MortalKombat), TikTok (@MortalKombat), X (@MortalKombat), Twitch (NetherRealm), YouTube (Mortal Kombat), Facebook (MortalKombat), Discord (MortalKombat), or Reddit (MortalKombat).

# # #

About Warner Bros. Games

Warner Bros. Games is a part of Global Streaming and Games for Warner Bros. Discovery and a premier worldwide publisher, developer and licensor of entertainment content for the interactive space across all platforms, including console, handheld, mobile and PC-based game titles. Additional information can be found at WBGames.com.

About NetherRealm Studios

NetherRealm Studios is a leader in the development of interactive entertainment, and the creator of the billion-dollar Mortal Kombat franchise. Mortal Kombat has spawned two theatrical films, multiple television series, and has sold more than 80 million games to date. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the award-winning NetherRealm team has been working and creating games together since 1992. Additional information about NetherRealm Studios can be found at NetherRealm.com.

Mortal Kombat 1 Software © 2024 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Developed by NetherRealm. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved. Mortal Kombat, the dragon logo, NetherRealm Studios, NetherRealm logo and all related characters and elements are trademarks of © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. PEACEMAKER and all related characters and elements © & ™ DC and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s24). THE BOYS™ © 2024 Sony Pictures Television Inc. and Amazon Content Services LLC. All rights reserved. Based on the animated series Invincible by Amazon Content Services LLC and the comic book Invincible by Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker and Ryan Ottley. INVINCIBLE and any related images are registered or otherwise protected trademarks of Robert Kirkman, LLC. Used with permission. All Rights Reserved. SKYBOUND, SKYBOUND GAMES and any related logos are registered or otherwise protected trademarks of Skybound, LLC. Used with permission. All Rights Reserved. Conan, Conan the Barbarian (R) and (C) Conan Properties International LLC. The GHOST FACE Mask is protected by registered copyrights of Easter Unlimited Inc. GHOST FACE, THE ICON OF HALLOWEEN and GHOST FACE LIVES are trademarks and registered trademarks of Easter Unlimited, Inc. All rights reserved. ©2024 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved. Terminator 2: Judgment Day, T2, T1000, and any depiction of T1000 are trademarks of Studiocanal S.AS. All Rights Reserved. *** These videos/trailers may only be displayed if it is behind an age-gate that: (1) is age-neutral (i.e., requires the user to input their date of birth or select it from a drop-down bar); (2) employs reasonable technical measures to keep underage users from re-entering their age after initially being denied access; and (3) does not display any rating information on the trailer player or the age-gate itself. Failure to implement these requirements may jeopardise your ability to obtain material of this nature from us in the future.

Launched at Steam Tower Defense Fest, the demo is now available to download via Steam

[Porto Alegre, Brazil, July 29th 2024]: Calling all Wardens for deployment! Today Brazilian-American studio Big Moxi Games releases a new playable demo for genre-blending game Wardens Rising via Steam. Combining Action RPG hero shooter elements with  tower defense and MOBA-style base defense gameplay, Wardens Rising will release on PC and consoles in early 2025. . 

As a Warden, players are humanity’s last line of defense against a relentless inter-dimensional threat. Before each invasion, they’ll strategically build and manage defenses, placing towers, traps, portals and more to outsmart the enemy hordes, seamlessly blending fast-paced hero shooter action with base defense strategy.

View the gameplay reveal trailer below:

Launched today at Steam Tower Defense Fest, the demo allows players to experience the game’s  unique blend of PvE action RPG shooting and MOBA-style base defense strategy in the single-player Campaign mode on PC. 

Wardens Rising Demo features: 

• Choose from three Wardens, each with their own unique abilities 
• The tutorial and six maps across the first biome 
• Build and fight your way to victory against massive invasions
• Face the first mighty boss in one-on-one combat
• Experience a taste of character progression and hero loadout customization options
• Lay waste to enemy hordes invading on multiple paths leading to your core

“We’re excited to give players a taste of the exhilarating gameplay that awaits them in Wardens Rising,” said Damon Alberts, Head of Studio at Big Moxi Games. “The demo offers a glimpse into the game’s deep character customization, intense combat, and strategic base defense.”

Wardens Rising will release on PC and console in early 2025, the playable demo is available to download via Steam now. 

For more information about the game please visit: www.wardensrising.com 

About Big Moxi Games

Founded by Damon Alberts and Eduardo Gottschald in 2019, Big Moxi is a Brazilian-American game development studio focused on creating unforgettable experiences for the global action game market while growing and empowering game development talent in the LATAM region. Located in Porto Alegre, Brazil with offices also in Chile and New York, Big Moxi partners global publishers and IP holders to provide world-class AAA game co-development services in addition to focusing on their own games. Their debut title Wardens Rising is a unique blend of action RPG, base defense and hero shooter for 1 to 4 players and will be released in 2025..

Grab your catnip and get ready to fight against the forces of evil in ESDgitial Games’ cat-tastic new tower defense strategy game

Limassol, Cyprus – 29th July 2024. Fall in line feline fighters and prepare for battle! Publisher ESDigital Games is excited to announce the PC launch of Cats on Duty, the purr-fectly hilarious and action-packed blend of real-time strategy, tower defense, and match-3 mechanics from developer Prikol Team. Cats on Duty will launch today for PC via Steam and Epic Games Store with a paw-some 20% launch discount for a limited time. PlayStation and Xbox consoles and Nintendo Switch will release later in 2024. 

As well as the standard release, furry fans can also get their paws on the Cats on Duty – Deluxe Upgrade Pack (includes New Game +, Challenges Mode and digital soundtrack – base game required) and Cats on Duty – Deluxe Edition (includes Cats on Duty base game and Deluxe Upgrade Pack). All these paw-some editions are available to purchase on Steam now!

In other great news, Cats on Duty will be participating in the Steam Tower Defense Event from 29 July – 5 August, during which the dev team will showcase a brand new Steam Broadcast with new gameplay from the launch version for fans to check out!  

Hordes of fiendish creatures threaten your peaceful homeland and you, and your army of battle-hardened cat soldiers are the only line of defense against these forces of great evil. It’s time to pack away your yarn, clean out your litter tray and drive those zombies to the depths of the underworld!

Feast your eyes on the brand new release trailer for Cats on Duty below 

Features of Cats on Duty

• Tactical Tower Defense: Defend your territory with a brutal arsenal of weaponry. From powerful rifles that reach the enemy at a distance to death-defying assassins with blades sharper than any groomer’s scissors, strategically place your feline soldiers to ensure victory on the battlefield.
• Unleash the Cattitude: Prepare for epic cat fights, playful antics, and adorable meows as your feline warriors show off their unique personalities and unleash their special abilities. Brace yourself for a blend of sass and strategy that will keep you entertained throughout the battles.
• Match-3 Mayhem: It’s not just tower defense: it’s tower defense with a twist of addictive match-3 gameplay! Connect gems on the resource field to receive currency and purchase cat towers. Swap and combine cats on the battlefield to create upgraded towers and unleash devastating attacks. Inspired by Plants vs Zombies and Tower Swap, Cats on Duty takes the best of the genre and enhances it with captivating match-3 mechanics.
• Customize and Improve your Squad: Unlock and collect a variety of quirky cat characters, each with their own strengths and abilities. From snipers and assassins to shotgun-toting Rambo-like felines and even a battle version of Puss in Boots, tailor your team to your playstyle and create the ultimate squad of kitty heroes. Gather three kittens in a row and witness the birth of a SUPER BATTLE CAT!
• Epic Enemies: Face off against formidable foes that will make your whiskers tremble. Zombies, skeletons, spiders, Baba Yaga, and EPIC bosses await your tactical prowess. Sharpen your claws, load your shotguns, and show them who’s the real top cat on the battlefield!
• Unique Environments: Explore diverse and meticulously crafted levels, from deceptively cozy suburban backyards to mysterious desert. Each environment presents unique challenges that require cunning strategy to emerge victorious.
• Charming Pixel-Cat Graphics: Immerse yourself in a vibrant and whimsical world filled with colorful environments and adorable cat animations. It’s a visual feast that will make you feel like you’re right in the midst of a kitty adventure!

Cats on Duty launches today for PC via Steam and Epic Games Store with a 20% launch discount for a limited time. PlayStation and Xbox consoles and Nintendo Switch will follow later in 2024. 

About ESDigital Games

ESDigital Games is a global video games publishing company specializing in premium indie and mid-core games for both PC as well as consoles. ESDigital Games portfolio includes the 80s-themed point-and-click adventure Unusual Findings and the Early Access releases of roguelike action RPG Scholar of the Arcane Arts, the twin-stick shooter REMEDIUM, RTS tower defense and match-3 mechanics title Cats on Duty and the complex alchemy RPG Battlejuice Alchemist. Other exciting titles in development include the side-scrolling Metroidvania inspired Awaken – Astral Blade, the story-driven sci-fi adventure Sky of Tides, the sci-fi stealth action game Steel Seed and the awe-inspiring action-adventure title Island of Winds as well as new unannounced titles in development.

Celebrate the seven seas and the different biomes in the pixel art festival by Brave At Night

Tønsberg, Norway, July 29th, 2024 – Solo developer Jardar Solli is proud to announce today that his pirate adventure game Seablip is participating in Brave At Night’s PixElated Adventures Festival on Steam. Currently in early access, Seablip is featured as part of the showcase event celebrating all things pixel art from July 29th to August 5th; with a 20% discount throughout!

Collating all the best pixel art games all in one place, Brave By Night’s PixElated Adventures Festival will run through the week, exhibiting the collection on Steam. As part of the selected games, Seablip and Jardar Solli will also participate in live streams throughout the festival, and will be part of the Reddit AMA where you can ask the festival’s participants questions about their game’s development, on 29th July, at 8pm GMT. Aspiring pixel artists can also join in with the PixElated Art Contest and have a chance to exhibit their inspired artwork on the event page, with the submission deadline on the 31st July.

To celebrate the inclusion of Seablip as part of the PixElated Adventures Festival, new Steam trading cards will be added to the early access version of the game. A set of six trading cards, each featuring unique pixelated artwork will be available for players to collect as they play Seablip, alongside five new emoticons and three Seablip profile backgrounds to add to your Steam profile.

Roam the high seas in a vibrant open world containing a series of islands to discover and enemies to defeat. Drawing inspiration from titles such as Faster Than Light and Sid Meier’s Pirates!, Seablip offers the freedom to explore, build and even fish! Upgrade your ship with extra cannons and inventory space, hire a new crew to aid you in your adventures and gather resources from a range of sources – chopping trees, mining minerals and watering crops as you make use of the tools at your disposal.

Engage in a plethora of minigames and activities as you progress, building bases and making use of your trusty fishing rod. Find gold from treasure or earn it by selling your wares, or even take bounties found around the world and enhance your pirate reputation as you get paid. 

Following successful funding of the game through Kickstarter and a well received demo released during the Steam Next Fest, solo developer Jardar Solli released Seablip into early access earlier this year, while he perfects the many mechanics present in the title and adds new features to what is already a highly ambitious RPG. Play Seablip on Steam today and conquer the seven seas!

About Jardar Solli

Following 5 years (more than 10,000 hours) of development on Seablip, including a successful Kickstarter campaign that launched in 2020, self taught coder and solo developer Jardar Solli is edging closer to living his dream in releasing his first title. Seablip will launch on Early Access in 2024, aiming for a full launch in 2025.

Since Capsule Computers has previously covered Mini Motorways, I thought you’d be interested to know that Dinosaur Polo Club, the award-winning studio behind best-selling traffic management sims Mini Motorways and Mini Metro with nearly 12 million combined players, today spotlights the development and previous work on a now-canceled project code-named Magic School.

The team sees this as an opportunity to transparently discuss learnings from the recently canceled Magic School project.

Though Magic School will never be released, Dinosaur Polo Club wants to champion the hard work team members poured into it, celebrate their contributions, and encourage them to share their work with the broader gaming world and provide some insight into the game development process.

The studio is grateful to be in a position to retain the varied talent of the Magic School team and plan to redirect their skills to the new projects within their celebrated Mini series.

The goal of the Magic School project was to explore something new outside of the minimalist simulation games the studio is typically known for.

Designer Zala Habib comments on her experience working on the project. “The Magic School team was an absolutely incredible group of people. Everybody was so inspiring and driven throughout the project’s life, and it was a joy to collaborate with such talented folks.” However, over the course of development, it became clear that the expanding vision for the game was leading the team towards a much bigger project, one that would require a far larger team size than the studio could sustainably support.

Although the team were excited by the breadth of visual exploration and specific game systems, the prototypes felt overly complex, which is very much at odds with the intuitive, quick-to-learn gameplay that our community has come to expect from a Dinosaur Polo Club title.

“Ultimately, we simply did not see a path forward for Magic School. However, we still wanted to share the amazing work the team had produced over the course of prototyping,” said Amie Wolken, newly appointed CEO of Dinosaur Polo Club. “So much great game development never sees the light of day because studios are often shy about sharing when things don’t go as planned. Instead, we are choosing to celebrate what we learned along the way and the incredible work from our team.”

For more information and to follow the celebration of Magic School on our pages, please visit the studio’s new Artstation, the Dinosaur Polo Club website, the YouTube page, and follow the studio on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

About Dinosaur Polo Club

Dinosaur Polo Club is an independent game development studio based in beautiful Wellington, New Zealand. Founded in 2013 by brothers Peter and Robert Curry, the studio first made waves with their award-winning and BAFTA-nominated debut Mini Metro. Created in collaboration with Disasterpeace and Jamie Churchman, Mini Metro explores relaxed and minimalist subway design. The second game developed by Dinosaur Polo Club introduces a brand new type of city management with colorful road-building and resource management found in Mini Motorways. Combined, Mini Metro and Mini Motorways make up two parts of an expanding Mini Collection.  With an inclusive and supportive culture that believes in giving back to its creative community, the studio has grown and is now home to nearly 30 dinos as it works on new titles with relatable simplicity.

Use positioning to your advantage and plan your assault to defeat your enemies in the first demo, available on Steam today!

NICOSIA, Cyprus – July 29, 2024 – CRITICAL REFLEX and Luxorix Games are thrilled to debut Deadlock Station with an action-packed trailer showcasing the all-new roguelike autobattler tactical RPG. Command your squad, build your base, explore the world and fight aliens in this fully-featured demo experience available on Steam today!

Turn the battlefield to your advantage in this pixelated tactical roguelike with indirect controls. Assemble a unique squad of heroes to destroy the alien invaders with precise strategic planning. Use resources to upgrade your base between each tactical expedition as you seek to uncover the truth about the Event and the mysterious disappearance of humans.

Key Features:

• Strategic Auto Battles: Carefully plan out the attack by positioning your units and queuing unique abilities before each fight.
• Use the Environment to Your Advantage: Lead your heroes into a damage-boosting anomaly, lure enemies into traps, and erect barricades to halt your opposition’s advance!
• Build Your Base: Between expeditions, develop your base to unlock new items, characters, and factions to interact with, from the ruthless Order to the all-knowing Past and Future Society.
• Upgrade Your Squad: Combine weapons, armor, items and mutations to create truly unique fighters, and use resources collected in battle to unlock all-new abilities!
• Mysterious Artifacts: Utilize strange alien artifacts in the heat of combat to gain an advantage and help you win even the most difficult battles.

Download the demo and wishlist Deadlock Station on Steam today. Follow Luxorix on Twitter/X for the latest news and updates from the game.

About Luxorix Games

Luxorix Games is an indie game team who came together by happenstance, and so they continue to work together. They’re currently working on Deadlock Station, a game made in GameMakerStudio2. Learn more at luxorixgames.com or by following Luxorix on Twitter/X. Gamedev unites!

About CRITICAL REFLEX

CRITICAL REFLEX is an indie game publishing label on a mission: find kick-ass games, make sure they’re at their best upon release, and put them in front of as many gaming fans as possible. Members of our team have worked with a lot of successful indie projects, launched a dozen crowdfunding companies, and now we’ve come together to publish games that we love! www.criticalreflex.com

Check out the new update for ‘Scholar of the Arcane Arts’ and grab a discount for ‘Unusual Findings’ 

Limassol, Cyprus – 29th July 2024. Indie publisher ESDigital Games is thrilled to announce its participation in the Pixelated Event from 29 July to 5 August with the roguelike action RPG Scholar of the Arcane Arts and the 80s inspired 2-D pixel art point-and-click adventure Unusual Findings. 

As a bonus for fans looking to pick up a copy of Scholar of the Arcane Arts during the event will be pleased to know that the new Sunobius Edition update will be going live during the event! If that’s not enough excitement, then there will be a limited-time event discount for both games when the Pixelated Event starts! 

Unusual Findings 

Unusual Findings transports you back to the 80s and pays tribute to classic movies such as The Goonies, The Explorers, Monster Squad, The Lost Boys, They Live, Terminator, and Aliens and adds gameplay that combines mechanics of Point and Click masterpieces like Full Throttle with its own unique twist. 

Fans will soon be able to dig deeper into this quintessential adventure when the free Vinny’s Diary update launches very soon! In this update Vinny, one of the three main characters from Unusual Findings, will share hints on how to complete and solve puzzles via his thoughts in his diary and provide a little extra lore from the game. Players can also use the ‘give more hints’ button until the help and advice are replaced by direct instructions for those needing extra help. Also included in the update are various fixes and QOL improvements, as well as improved PC mouse controls and traditional Chinese localisation. That’s not all, as console fans can now enjoy a PS5 and Xbox Series update which not only adds the Vinny’s Diary update but also improves performance on these current-gen systems. Nintendo Switch players will also have access to all the Vinny’s Diary update content! 

There will also be a huge 50% discount for Unusual Findings on Steam during the event! 

Check out the recently release Vinny’s Diary update announcement trailer below

Scholar of the Arcane Arts

As a passion project for solo developer Courtesy of Endo, Scholar of the Arcane Arts launched into Steam Early Access in December 2022. Since then Courtesy of Endo has been busy working on new gameplay content and updates as part of the EA development journey. Today the team is thrilled to release a new update packed with new content, fixes and of course, magic

Scholar of the Arcane Arts is a Roguelike Action RPG where every spell you cast interacts with one another. Learn new spells, solve puzzles, unlock secret dungeons, and defeat monstrous beings to save the world invaded by five Planes of magic!

The new Sunobius Edition update adds some truly magical gameplay content including a wealth of new spells to master, tons of enemies to defeat and a brand new Demigod to take down. But don’t worry, you can now add the ability to wield lightning to your arsenal of spells! 

With nine new spells, new equipable items and the ability to combine all spells with Aeromany for new shocking effects, Scholar of the Arcane Arts allows budding wizards to test their spell casting while exploring 2D procedurally generated magical worlds to defeat dark monsters lurking within! 

Scholar of the Arcane Arts will have a magical 25% discount during the event!

Watch the new Sunobious Edition update trailer below 

Scholar of the Arcane Arts is now available for PC via Steam Early Access. Unusual Findings is now available for PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, PlayStation and Xbox consoles and Nintendo Switch.  

About ESDigital Games

ESDigital Games is a global video games publishing company specializing in premium indie and mid-core games for both PC as well as consoles. ESDigital Games portfolio includes the 80s-themed point-and-click adventure Unusual Findings and the Early Access releases of roguelike action RPG Scholar of the Arcane Arts, the twin-stick shooter REMEDIUM, RTS tower defense and match-3 mechanics title Cats on Duty and the complex alchemy RPG Battlejuice Alchemist. Other exciting titles in development include the side-scrolling Metroidvania inspired Awaken – Astral Blade, the story-driven sci-fi adventure Sky of Tides, the sci-fi stealth action game Steel Seed and the awe-inspiring action-adventure title Island of Winds as well as new unannounced titles in development.

Highrise City, the ambitious PC Steam ‘blockbuster’ city builder from FourExo Entertainment and Deck13 Spotlight, has built up and captivated a dedicated community constantly playing the unique mix between classic city builders and  complex economy simulation. This unique format blows away recent competition for those who have experienced Highrise City’s complexity.

Deck13 Spotlight is pleased to announce their ongoing support with the announcement of the second PC  DLC, Vacation Season, releasing on 5th August on Steam and Good Old Games, price point $9.99.

A Vacation DLC which deserves its name!

The new Vacation Season DLC offers tons of new content, starting with a whole new economy branch to satisfy a new group of citizens: Demanding tourists who will visit your city to spend their hard earned money on products exclusively designed for them.

Build tourist spots and attractions, open up hotels and set up complex tourist lines with public transport to entertain your visitors. With seven new resources and 17 new buildings and all new mechanics this expansion indeed deserves the name DLC.

But that’s not all! With the release of the DLC, the Highrise City base game will receive a major free content update, introducing new resources and buildings as well. Players will be able to build massive exhibition halls to satisfy the needs of companies and they will also be able to create mowing tools as certain developments, such as parks, will need this new service.

Highrise City is available now on PC Steam and Good Old Games. The upcoming DLC Vacation Season will release on 5th August and introduce new mechanics and content.

About Deck 13 Spotlight

Deck13 Interactive is one of Germany’s leading developers. Based in Frankfurt, the passionate team develops award-winning, large-scale productions for consoles and PC. With Deck13 Spotlight the team has also established a publishing service that helps independent developers bring their projects to wider audiences.

More information on the website: spotlight.deck13.com

About FourExo Entertainment

FourExo is a small indie developer located in eastern Germany. Their debut title stands perfectly well for the teams ambitions: Working like maniacs on a vision – that’s the mission. More information on the website: http://highrisecitygame.com